caroline goes back in time

So today had my cultural day visiting an old site of ancient civilisation in recompense for being too hungover/tired to make it to the equivalent site in Cuenca. Kind of fun, lots of the obligatory small crumbling stone walls and rather grand hypothesises on what these small walls might once have been (ie grandest temple in most important ancient civilisation ever.....so important infact that no-one outside visitors to la paz has ever heard of it). There were some pretty cool statue things though and the guide was really good at explaining what everything meant and what all the pretty squiggles on the statues were. What was more fun though was figuring out the relationship between old australian man with worst haircut ever (imagine if you will a rats tail on a balding white haired man) and pretty, young japenese woman. no body contact so wondered if some kind of wierd adoptive thing, but after 4 hours of heavy evesdropping, concluded that probably paid for wife...eeew

It was also a really scenic journey. Managed to sleep through the most beautiful bit, but obviously didnt realise at the time. But luckily was awake on the way back to watch the altiplano segue into the beautiful, snowcapped peaks of the cordillero royal.....v nice. Unfortunately photos through the glass on the bus dont really do it justice, but you get hte vague idea from photo i have hopefully managed to attach. We also drove through this huge suburb of La Paz which is basically on the altiplano and populated by all the campesinos who have migrated to La Paz. Horrendously poor area, but what was interesting was to watch all the women in their beautiful clothes doing pretty much any work there was to be done!

Slight aside here but forgot to put this on yesterday....went to the archeological museum yesterday and had to take this photo of a display. Apparently it was all about the textiles of the tiwanaku period, but not really sure what the mummy and skull have to do with textiles! Mde me laugh anyway. Have also discovered a contender for worlds worst statue...see attached photo!